Led by the company Arkolia, the 16-hectare photovoltaic park project in the retention basin of the place called Mas Romeu (between Perpignan and Saint-Estève) is currently the subject of a public inquiry. A collective of lovers of the place and an environmental association (Frene66) are concerned, among other things, about the impact of the operation on biodiversity.
This is not a small project. The photovoltaic park that the Arkolia company plans to develop in the Perpignan retention basin at the place called Mas Romeu, bordering Saint-Estève, would bring together on 16 screened hectares nearly 29,000 panels installed on 2 meter high poles. . For an installed power of more than 17,000 peak megawatts.
Nicolas Parent – Nicolas Parent
The public inquiry prior to the issuance of the building permit for the installation began on November 28 and will continue until December 30. It was in parallel with this consultation that walkers who loved the place decided to come together within a collective in order to oppose the project. “We've been going to this place for years. When we saw the signs announcing the public inquiry, we jumped, explains one of the spokespersons for the collective, Madeleine Ginesta. There is flora and fauna on this site. It is a very pleasant green area where you can see lots of birds. We fear a loss of biodiversity.”
Fears for biodiversity
The Federation for Natural Spaces and the Environment of the Pyrénées-Orientales (Frene66) shares these concerns. After dissecting the public inquiry file, the president of the association, Marc Maillet, also decided to step up to the plate. “The sector is recognized as a wetland, even if the project leaders describe it as artificial”he insists, following the opinion that the Regional Environmental Authority Mission (MRAE) rendered on the project. Indeed, according to the organization: “The project is located within an elementary wetland” which constitutes “a sector with strong environmental challenges”.
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A 16-hectare photovoltaic park planned in a retention basin between Perpignan and Saint-Estève
“It’s a very interesting wetland for birds as a stopping and feeding area. It won’t be the same with the panelsadds Marc Maillet. There is also a species of orchid (Sérapias langue) that the MRAE highlights, as well as snakes, amphibians and bats. And despite all this, the project leader is not requesting an exemption from the legislation on protected species.” Useful clarification: the impact study attached to the public inquiry file mentions, for example, the observation on the site of the black kite, the cini canary, the European goldfinch, or even the southern tree frog.
-Legal action already considered
According to the president of Frene, the project also does not take into account the Water Development and Management Scheme (Sdage) which prescribes the preservation of wetlands. Furthermore, in the opinion it issued on the project, the municipality of Perpignan judges that the requested building permit does not respect its local town planning plan, which does not allow any construction in this area. Arkolia disputes this analysis.
In any case, La Frene has already announced that it will attack the prefect's decision if he ever authorizes the project.
“Environments favorable to species will be preserved” assures Arkolia
Regarding biodiversity, the project manager in charge of the operation for Arkolia, Quentin Bonneaud, emphasizes that the impacts have been assessed and that specific measures are planned. “For example, environments favorable to amphibians, reptiles and avifauna in particular are entirely preserved, he explains. We also considered proposing a work schedule that will avoid impacting the species identified during the site study. Ecological monitoring during and post-construction will finally allow us to ensure that the species present continue to use it. In addition, the retention basin being an artificial structure, its “wet” character will not be called into question by the presence of the panels.” Based on this analysis, Arkolia considers that its project does not require a request for exemption for protected species and that it is compatible with the Sdage.
As for the impact on the landscapes, Quentin Bonneaud also specifies that the power plant will be “hardly noticeable” since located in a basin. “We also planned the installation of a hedge made up of local species to reinforce the visual masks from the north and west of the site”he adds.
